The next morning it was still storming out, and as she served him his breakfast she flinched and spilled his tea when she heard a particularly loud clap of thunder. She looked up at him in fear to see if he had noticed, and found that he was looking at her with a strange expression on his face.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying not to be a bother. I was up rather late. I'm sorry."
As she grabbed a cloth to wipe up the mess, he continued to look at her with that strange expression.
"Tell the truth dearie. You haven't slept at all have you?"
He knew he had been up all night as the storm had raged outside, worried about his maid two floors below. His spells didn't work with keeping the sound of nature away from the inside of the castle. Even if he hadn't seen the way her hands shook when the rumbling came from outside, there was no missing the dark circles under her eyes.
She stopped wiping at the table and momentarily avoided his gaze. "I don't want to be a bother."
"This no bother." She looked up at him. "I can't have a maid who stays up all night. Now you haven't slept at all have you?"
She shook her head. Standing up he reached out his hand. "Come with me. There is something for you in one of the spare rooms."
Puzzled, she set her rag down and followed him as he quickly walked to the largest spare room on the same floor where her rooms were. As they both stopped outside the door, she noticed that he was twisting his hands in nerves. What could be behind this door that made him so nervous?
He gestured toward the handle, and stepped back as she opened the door. She felt her jaw drop as she let out a gasp of shock. Other than entry way, the entire floor was covered with cushions and pillows. There was one lone window in the corner where she could see the rain and while she saw the flashes of lightening, the thunder wasn't as loud here. Hanging from the ceilings were sheets, blankets, and cloths of a variety of sizes. They were draped against chairs and posts that were scattered around the room giving the room the appearance of being a rather large tent filled with smaller tents, little cozy nooks, and hidden corners of a variety of sizes. She knew it was a room, but it looked like a tent. Or like a fort. A pillow fort.
She turned back to see him looking up at the ceiling in embarrassment as his hands continued to move nervously. "It's just down the hall from your room. So if you feel the need, you can always come down here and....."
She didn't let him finish as she ran towards him and threw her arms around him. "Thank you! I can't believe you were listening."
He hesitated awkwardly and then slowly put his hands gently on her back. "Yes well...." he stepped back and tried to fix her a stern look. "Now I don't want to hear any excuses from you. This is your space and you will use it and not bother me with being upset at the weather." He pointed a finger at her hoping to wipe that smile off her face, but she kept grinning at him with that stunning smile of hers.
"You remember why you came here dearie. This isn't for beauty sleep, this is so you can get your work done." He put on his scariest Dark One face, but the girl continued to smile at him. He wasn't doing this because he knew it would make her more comfortable, he was doing this because he needed to not worry about her. She shouldn't get the wrong idea.
"Of course Rumple. I'll keep up on my duties now of course. Now come on and join me! It's so much fun!" Giggling, she kicked off her shoes and ducked down in between two chairs that had a lone blanket hanging over them. All he could see was her bare feet. He stood there confused at her reaction, and then hesitated even when she spun around and peeked her head out. "Aren't you coming? It's not a pillow fort without company."
He would not be intimidated by some shallow slip of a woman. Spelling away his boots, he crawled onto the floor under the blanket and through a pillow tunnel until he found her at the largest nook at the back. She grinned at him from her kneeling position. "This is amazing! How did you think of it all?"
He blushed at her praise. "I knew someone that always talked about building a pillow fort. He only had a few threadbare blankets and one pillow, but he would talk with his friends about what his dream space would look like. I assumed that it would appeal to you as well."
She had laid down, and leaned up on one elbow with a serious expression. "You're talking about your son aren't you?"
Unable to find a comfortable position kneeling, he went to lay down as well propping up his head on one elbow. He moved as far away from her as he could. "Yes, but it's no matter. This is your space now."
She smiled at him against with a sad but sleepy expression. Taking a pillow that served as a 'wall' from behind her she placed it under her head. "I'm sorry. It must be hard to talk about him."
When he didn't respond, she yawned. "You were right, I'm exhausted. Do you mind staying until I fall asleep? I feel safer if someone is around. My mother always stayed.""I do have better things to do that lie about with some maid."
He saw her hurt expression and felt that familiar pang of guilt. "Fine. But the second you fall asleep I'm going back to work." He grabbed a pillow from under a chair for himself and made himself comfortable.
"Thank you Rumple. I really appreciate it." She closed her eyes with a peaceful expression. For a few moments he stared at her face. What was it about her that was so enchanting? When she had mentioned that her mother would make pillow forts, he had come down here the next day and made this space for her. She seemed to like it as much as the library. And now here she was peacefully sleeping less than two feet from the Dark One. Why wasn't she afraid? Didn't she know what kind of beast he was? Why did he feel so drawn to her? Rumple continued to stare at her sleeping form as his eyes grew heavy and soon he also slept.
Several hours later she awoke wondering why her pillow had gotten so hard. And there was something solid beneath her arm. Lifting her head, she was shocked to realized that she had moved over to cuddle Rumplestiltskin in her sleep. Fortunately he appeared to be asleep as well.
He was snoring softly as he laid on his back, and once again she had rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist. She watched him as he slept. She knew he thought he was a awful beast with no redeeming qualities, but he had done this wonderful kind thing for her. Despite all his protests, she knew he was a kind being underneath all of the scales. As his chest rose and fell, she noticed that his face was more relaxed that she had ever seen him. He was beautiful this way. Knowing that if she woke him he would flee in panic again, she softly moved back to rest her head on his shoulder. She pondered again why it felt as if she was meant to be there. When she woke again, he was gone and her head was back on her own pillow.
_____
"Rumple, we don't need to go downstairs. I'm fine now, I haven't had a panic attack like that in years. I was just overtired and the storm is passing through, I'll be fine."
"Just come downstairs sweetheart for a moment, you'll be glad you did." His wife had stopped crying after a while and had drifted off to sleep for a hour or so. While she slept he had grabbed several flashlights and electric lanterns, and got to work setting up his plan in the living room. As he led her down the steps, he wondered if she would be disappointed that what he had done wasn't as grand as what he had made for her in the Dark Castle.
As she turned the corner, she spotted the pillow fort that he had put together in the living room. He had grabbed the chairs from the dining room, the cushions off the couch, the pillows from the guest bedroom, as well as several blankets and sheets from the linen closet.
She stopped in the hallway and stared at the blankets draped over pillows and chairs to make a space for them. "You remembered."
"Of course I did. Is it okay? I know it's not as large or as fancy as the one in Dark Castle."
He was silenced in his apologies by her lips meeting his. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him. As he moved to deepen the kiss, she pulled back to rest her forehead on his.
"I love you so much Rumple. I really am fine and don't need this to keep me calm anymore, but I'm touched you remembered. This reminds me of when I first started falling in love with you."
He smiled down at her. "If I'm being honest, it's when I first realized that you were someone important to me to." They smiled at each other as they melted back into the kiss. He felt her tongue dance across his lips, and he opened his mouth meeting her tongue with his own. As their mouths moved together in a romantic dance, her hands drifted down to his bottom to pull them closer together, and he moaned into her mouth as he felt desire shoot through his spine into his groin.
She broke the kiss apart to smile that cheeky smile that he loved so much. "Do you remember the last time we were in one of these together?" She moved to take off her nightshirt with a sexy grin. He felt his mouth water as he saw her beautiful pert breasts.
"I do. I woke up to find you cuddled next to me and I was terrified. You were so beautiful that I wasn't sure what I done to deserve that." Mimicking her, he removed his t-shirt as well.
Dropping her pajama pants to be completely naked in front of him, she smirked. "Well thunderstorms used to be my worst fear. And I always wondered what it would have been like if you had stayed next to me after you woke up. But now I guess I'll need some big strong man next to me to help me feel safe." Winking, she crawled under the canopy.
He didn't need to be told twice. Dropping his boxers, he felt his erect cock bounce free of its confines. He crawled under the blanket roof with her. He ran his hand up her side and delighted in feeling her shiver. "Belle. My Belle."
"Rumple." She had gone to pull him on top of her when another loud crash of thunder rang out. She flinched, and then put her hands on the side of his face. "Help distract me Rumple. Let's bring the thunder down under."
They looked at each other for a beat, and then both started laughing. "Did you really just say let's bring the thunder?"
"Yes. I was trying to come up with the most absurd thing I could think of to take my mind off the storm. Did it work?" Her nose crinkled as she continued to giggle.
"Indeed it did my dear." They both continued to chuckle, and then he put his hands through her hair and gazed down at her. "I love that we can still laugh when we make love."
"Me to sweetheart." With her eyes still twinkling, she reached up to pull him to her. Their kisses were full of passion. Rumple loved that even through the years, the spark was still there. As their mouths moved together, her hands ran up and down his back to come down and grasp his ass again.
A slow moan began in his belly and rose up to his escape his throat. Moving his head down to nibble at her throat, he scooted down to take one nipple into his mouth. As he teased the nipple with the tip of his tongue, her hands moved to his hair to pull him closer as she arched her back.
As he suckled at her other breast, he moved his hand down to reach in between her legs. Feeling how slick she was, he moved his fingers against her clit slowly in a circle just the way that Belle liked.
"Rumple!" She moaned as she pulled up on his head to bring his lips back to hers. She ran her hands down to grab his shaft between her fingers. Running her fingers around the tip, she began to pump him in time with the fingers that danced along her clit. They were a pleasured mix of tongues, groans, gasps, and love. Their breathing filled the room as his hips rolled into her hands.
"I love you Belle. I love you so much." He began to move his fingers faster as her gasps grew louder. "Do you know that? Do you feel that?"
"Oh yes Rumple. Yes." Her breathing filled the area under the blanket, eager and impatient. Belle moaned, recognizing his need as it matched her own. Her hips undulated of their own accord as his tongue danced across her swollen lips. Fully aroused she decided this would not be a slow sweet lovemaking and she wanted it to be fast and hard. This was enough foreplay. She needed him inside her now and fast.
Shoving his hand away, she pulled up on his shoulders to have him resting completely on top of her. "Now. I need you now." He moved her legs apart with his thighs, and then pushed into her quickly. They both groaned in pleasure. As he began to move inside her, he focused on how amazing she felt surrounding him in her slick heat.
He lifted up on his elbows to ensure that his pelvis was grinding against her clit, and was rewarded with a renewed groan of "Right there. Faster." As he continued to thrust into her in a quick rhythm, she groaned as she felt filled in the most delicious way possible.
As he thrust and rubbed against her, she felt her orgasm build as her breathing increased. Above her Rumple grunted as he pumped his hips to move faster and faster. He could also feel his need to come building in his groin. Soon both of them were crying out in pleasure as she felt her release shoot through core and through her arms and legs. Not relenting his pace, he continued to thrust into her. She gasped as she she came down from her first orgasm only to feel a second only quickly building again.
As he continued to keep up his rapid pace, he reached down to move his fingers across her clit again. Her hips bucked in response as she screamed out in ecstasy. Thrusting deeply several more times, he began to convulse inside of her until he came deep within her.
While they basked in their shared afterglow, Belle realized the storm had stopped and that the house was quiet. She cuddled up next to his shoulder and breathed a sigh of contentment.
"That is always still so amazing."
He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. "Did I bring the thunder?"
Smacking his shoulder with a giggle she smirked. "Stop with that joke you silly man." Sighing she snuggled down to rest her head on his chest. "I love this feeling. It's like I was made to fit right here."
Kissing the top of her head as he thought about how he was the luckiest man in the world, "That's because you were."
